. >> the president and romney will hunker down over the next few days as they huddled with senior advisers to prepare for the showdown in denver. in recent days, campaigns have been bending over backward to complement their opponents and downplay expectations. new jersey governor chris christie said a high bar for romney. >> this is the first moment when the american people can see these two guys by side, letting out their visions unfiltered. i think that will be a powerful moment for mitt romney. >> obama senior advisers said they are preparing. >> they have been practicing for months. i am sure they will have a lot of clever lines, but that is not the american people are looking for. >> abc news political analyst matt dowd says advisors are emphasizing style over substance. >> debates that have changed people's lives have been about physical debates and -- physical characteristics and mannerisms, not substance. >> both have challenges. the president needs to keep his answers short to avoid sounding like the professor he was before entering the white house. romney has to connect with vote